CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL

America's New War: Full Diplomatic Pressure on Afghanistan

Aired September 18, 2001 - 05:37 ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as you know, full court diplomatic press is underway right now to bring in Osama bin Laden. And at the head of that press is Secretary of State Colin Powell. He's urging team world leaders to support the U.S. response to last Tuesday's attack. And CNN's State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel updates us now on how those efforts are going.

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ANDREA KOPPEL; CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: With the Bush administration's diplomatic campaign now in high gear Secretary of State Colin Powell said the international coalition against terrorism is coming together.

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES: For some it is rhetorical in nature. And they really don't have much else to give us other than words of support and encouragement. Others it is far more than that to the point of, "If you have to do something militarily ask us if we can participate."

KOPPEL: At the heart of this diplomatic puzzle is Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network have safe haven. And for that reason, administration officials say, the U.S. is focusing on several key pieces - Pakistan, Central Asia, Russia and the Arab world.

Diplomatic sources tell CNN, Pakistan's president sent a delegation to deliver a letter to the leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia Monday. The message - hand over bin Laden or face U.S. military retaliation.

In Central Asia where members of bin Laden's network are known to operate the U.S. is appealing to these governments to close their borders and round up the terrorists.

Experts say the country of Usbeckistan could also help in a future U.S. military operation.

FRED STARR, CENTRAL ASIA CAUCUS INSTITUTE: It has led the Central Asian activism on the issue of Afghanistan and it has Taskcamp - the best air base in the region.

KOPPEL: That's among the reasons Powell's deputy, Richard Armatage, is traveling to Russia this week - to seek Moscow's help in bring Central Asia onboard as well as its advice from Moscow's 10 year war with Afghanistan.

A pivotal piece of this puzzle is the Arab world. Countries like Saudi Arab - a source not only of money to bin Laden's network but also home to some of Islam's holiest sites. The U.S. needs the Saudis and others to explain that this is not a U.S. war against Islam - a point President Bush made clear Monday in a visit to a Washington mosque.

KOPPEL: The administration will get to re-enforce that message later this week in meetings with the Saudi foreign minister here in Washington. The U.S. looking to the Muslim world to spread the word that last week's attacks were un-Isalmic and the terrorists who committed them - traitors to Islam.

Andrea Koppel, CNN at the State Department.

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